The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-08-04
Mr.. Barbour's lie tier.

addressed by Hon. John ). BARBOUR to
gentleman In Accomac county. and given
to the public through the Alexandra Cd
zetfe Some of the statements are extra
ordinary, comingj from the Cha rman OF
the Democratic State Committee, with
full knowledge of the agencies employed
to defeat the will of the people in 1883, III
the election of Democratic Legislature,
and the revolutionary methods adopted by
that body to do the very things that he
would warn the people against RepuDll-
can Legislature doing. We call attention
to several suggestions in this remarkable
letter, which we are sure would not
have found its way to the public, with the
authors consent. if Mr.. Barbour had not
lost his sagacity by reason OF impaired
mental perceptions.
He charges that the Republicans i'll the
"cities and counties first inausnrated the
policy of paying their taxes i'll coupons,
and thus excited the cupidlty OF some
Democrats to do the same thing. The fact
is the coupon as taX-paying agent Is the
creature of Democratic legislation. Ii
was so employed 10y the Democratic tax
PAYERS of the State to such an extent as to
absorb the revenues of the Common
wealth before they reached the treasury :;
arrest the life current OF the Slate,
parayzng the public schools, the char-
liable institutions and indeed the en-
IL; Nf
the Republicans and Readl usters came
into power in 1881, was the fatal office oil
the coupon stayed its inflow into the
treasury stopped: and the revenues PAID by
the people dedicated to the purposes for
which they were designed. The result
was. the public schools were re-vltallzed
the tails were emptied of the insane: am
nile provision made for their accommoda-
ton and support in the institutions estab-
lished for their care: the warrants upon
the treasury for legitimate purposes
promptly paid the spirit Of the people re-
viyed. and prosperity inaugurated through
out the State. The people well remember
the condition of Virginia, when the Re
publicans and Readjusters took charge OF
the State administration in 1857. The
debt was increasing annually at the rate
of a million dollars in defaulted interest
the States credit was so low that a loan
of a few thousand dollars could not be ne
gotiated to save the treasury from abso
lutte bankruptcy; warrants upon the treas
ury for large and small amounts were
prot ested for want of funds to pay them
the asylums and charitable institutions were
run upon credit, until the bank deposl'
tories refused 10 advance another dollar
the.people declined to sell to them without
the money in hand thus threatening their
existence, and the public schools were on
the verge of ruin. after having their ef-
ficiency so impaired for want OF support
from the funds dedicated to them by the
constitution. as 60 invite distruSt and en-
courage hostility that would soon have
ripened into Il movement for the deStruc-
tion of the system These fearful results
were the outcome of Democratic .legisla-
ton and administration and the policy OF
the Democratic tax payers to employ cou-
pons to pay their taxes instead OF money
The county treasurers paid no respect to
the law requiring them to make stated set
Elements with the auditor, and the auditor
made no effort to enforce the law. AS a
consequence, they were in default to the
State between $300,000 and $40o,O and
not until the Republicans and ReadJusters
were empowered to do so was this condl-
ton of things changed.
The Democrats elected majority OF
the Legislature in 1888, by means that
ought to bring the blush of shame to the
cheek of every man who participated in or
approved, either directly or indirectly,
the crimes by which that result was
achieved. The bloody ontrages perpe-
tratpd to consummate Democratic success
in 1883, will stand out for all time to come
as a stigma upon Virginia; brand OF in
fanny upon the party that was guilty OF
them. and us time passes on VIII excite
the onder of the coming generations that
snch hrinous otfenses were ever tolerated
by brave and just people. win power
fins attained, it was not surprising that
deliberate conspiracy was formed TO ROD
the people of their rights. defeat Their le-
eally and honestly expressed voice at the
ballot box; unseat Republican members
of that body whom the people had elected.
and seat Democrats, whom the people
had rejected and thus with an exactly
two thirds majority practically nsnrp the
functions ard powers of the Executive
branch of government, committed by the
people to Republican Governor by l2,o"o
majority.
Nor is it surprising that power thus
gotten by fraud and violence, was used To
impair the legislation which had protected
,he treasury from the inflow OF the cou-
oons. and bring about the very condition
If things which now disturbs Mr.. Barbour
md his correspondent. The present de-
,lorable condition of the State is the re-
milf of Democratic legislation and Demo
ratio laundering. The record cannot be
ponged off. 1t is lndelibly stamped not
)niV III the dTCHlVCo do A'io"iAoN' e
mon the minds of the people. and for this
he party that did the mischief Will De heid
at the ballot box.
It required vast amount OF presump'
ion and brass for Mr.. Barbour. as char
nan of the Democratic Committee, to
oake.eyen reference to the IRE apportlon- !
oent of the Congressional DISTRICTS the
.iudicial crcuitsl re arranged" new
,t of circuit and county judges ap-
ointad ,, 1.-THE school boards vacated and
lied with party hacks" and 1.-THE whole
Machinery of;our elections, State and Fed
raj controlled by such agencies in the
ands of our political adversaries'" He
nows. as does every intelligent man in
that the Democratic Legisla-
ure, elected in 1883. re-apportioned the
districts, with the purpose
, Give the Democrats eight and the Re-
nhlicans two members of Congress, when
"a numerical strength of the two parties
nearly equal and ought by right to have
mai representation in Congress. But
70 neople have already revolted against
,is iniustice, aud returned three Demo-
ats six Republicans and one independent